Relations With Russia and Ukraine and Georgia
Expanding on the relationship the Assembly had developed with parliaments in Russia and Ukraine at the end of the Cold War, the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between the Russian Federation and NATO, signed in May 1997, and the NATO-Ukraine Charter signed in July 1997, explicitly charged the Assembly with expanding its dialogue and cooperation with both the Russian Federal Assembly and the Ukrainian Rada.
NATO-Russia Parliamentary Committee
Mirroring the creation in May 2002 of the NATO-Russia Council, a major step forward in NATO's cooperation with Russia, the Assembly created the NATO-Russia parliamentary Committee (NRPC). The NATO-Russia Parliamentary Committee meets twice a year during each of the Assembly’s sessions in an “at 29” format and has become the main framework for direct NATO-Russia parliamentary relations. It consists of the leaders of the Assembly’s 28 member delegations and the leaders of the Russian delegation to the Assembly. In addition to the dialogue held within this the Joint Parliamentary Committee, a 10-person delegation of the Russian Federal Assembly participates in the Assembly's Plenary Sessions as well as in many Assembly Committee and Sub-Committee meetings and seminars.
Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council
In 2002, the Assembly also decided to upgrade its special relationship with Ukraine by creating the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council (UNIC). The Assembly's cooperation with the Verkhovna Rada was progressively strengthened in the run-up to the Ukrainian Presidential elections in 2004. Members of the NATO-PA were involved in election monitoring, supporting the international community's effort.
The Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council (UNIC) monitors NATO’s relationship with Ukraine, paying particular attention to the parliamentary aspects of Ukraine’s defence and political reform. In addition to the UNIC meetings biannually held in both Brussels and Kyiv, there is usually one Committee or Sub-Committee visit to Kiev each year.
Georgia-NATO Interparliamentary Council
In 2009, the Assembly approved the creation of a Georgia-NATO inter-parliamentary council. The Georgia-NATO Interparliamentary Council is composed of two Vice-Presidents of the Assembly and the Head of the Georgian delegation to the NATO PA. They are responsible for coordinating all Assembly activities related to Georgia.
Read more about this topic: NATO Parliamentary Assembly
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